IT 2.15 CUCCO GROUP

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From the tourist location of Val di Ranco (Sigillo) start trails 225 (1) and 229 (3) which after a short stretch split: 225 to Acqua Fredda and Pian delle Macinare, 229 to Rio Freddo; the new signs show place names without the new numbers and the old ones are scribbled manually.
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
Follow trail 229 (3) which descends with Rio Freddo, low on the left, to the nearby ford at the beginning of the Valle di S. Pietro where trail 236 (10) is climbed. (8,9,10,11,12)
The trail enters the narrow valley to climb it with a spectacular sequence of small waterfalls, pools, small lakes, easy rocky passages and short flat stretches where you cross from one side to the other, water permitting; be careful on wet or damp spots, especially on rock slabs.
(13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24)
The valley widens into a plateau, where the Hermitage of San Pietro Orticheto once stood, of which no traces remain, and you walk next to the calm stream until another small brook where trail b.237 (10b) is located, which in 30 minutes leads to Val di Ranco. Choosing this option shortens the itinerary and avoids the exposed section of Passo Cattivo; however, it is recommended to do the loop clockwise, i.e. ascending via Valle di S. Pietro. (25,26,27,28)
Continuing to climb with trail 236 (10) you reach the saddle above where on the left side descends the airy ridge of M. lo Spicchio, b. 136D (ex 11). (29,30,31,32,33,34)
The descent begins with the landscape opening into the Rucce valley to climb the first foothills of the M. le Siere Group and, on the horizon, the Marchigiana Ridge. (35,36,37)
The gaze anticipates the pace and already looks at Passo Cattivo which has nothing bad about it, rather it is a good pass if it were not for the short very exposed and at times slippery trail that precedes it, so proceed calmly and carefully; before that, at the end of the descent, there is trail b.136 (which descends to Rucce). (38,39,40,41)
After passing Passo, a few more rocks then a middle slope trail, b.136A (which descends to Viacce), towards the wide grassy saddle to be reached without leaving the obvious track that halfway up turns right. (42,43,44,45,46,47)
At the M. Culumeo Saddle the unpleasant surprise, unfortunately recurring, of the pole with signs on the ground; livestock grazing or vandalism? The marker writings with a marker pen on the signs, however, are certainly not the work of the livestock. Go right descending into the tourist village to the starting point where trail 237 (10b) also arrives from Valle di S. Pietro. (48,49,50,51,52,53,54)
Just below there is a parking lot and the historic “Albergo Ristorante M. Cucco da Tobia”.
It is worth remembering Tobia, a unique character. Lumberjack of the third generation of the Beni family from Sigillo. Tobia “lives” the territory with great intensity. He works, builds, studies, writes, teaches.
Until the 1950s in Val di Ranco there was nothing, nothing human but there was everything to intuit then a vague use among splendid beech forests and shining meadows.
In April 1952 the people of Sigillo celebrate the start of road works. In 1958 a pioneer, Engineer Alberto Agostinelli, started a small kiosk (right where the hotel is today) which Tobia immediately took over. Not far away also Cappelloni, the competing friend, gave body to this dream. Water and electricity would only be available from 1964 favoring the development of a small village.
In 1967 the great discoveries in the Cave begin, descents into the Forra di Rio Freddo and from 1980 hang gliders fly which Tobia adventurously preceded. Tobia climbs and guides. He is and will always be the patriarch of Monte Cucco. (55)